May 10, 2014
|

by Virginia Barry, Reviewed.com

by Virginia Barry, Reviewed.com

When it comes to noise cancelling headphones, sometimes the best offense is a good defense. While there are plenty of active noise cancelling headphones that use a complex (and pricey) method to block distracting sounds, there are simpler ways. How about headphones with a snug fit that simply plug up your ear canals?

This process is called passive isolation. It's not uncommon for a consumer faced with the choice between the descriptors "passive" and "active" to choose the stronger-sounding technology, but great passive isolation can be just as effective and cost a lot less.

The AKG K323 XS headphones ($59 MSRP) are just such a pair. Sleek and portable, they produce a huge sound marked with prominent bass, supportive mids, and very healthy highs. They're also the best passive isolators that we've tested in a long time.

Like most in-ears, the XS headphones are quite small and simply designed, available in white, blue, orange, yellow, green - the list goes on. The Android version packs a one-button universal remote, and there's also a three-button version for iOS. The XS's teeny form factor, featherweight frame, and small carry case are additional on-the-go perks.

The cable is simple, but of decent quality. It's shorter than most cords - just 3.5 feet -which may or may not be desirable depending on how you use them.

Ears come in all different shapes, and so do the speaker covers. AKG includes four different options: extra small, small, medium, and large.

In the audio test labs, these AKGs proved to be a straight-A student. Thanks to moderate bass notes and very prominent middle and high notes, music sounds both full and balanced. From classical, to jazz, to hip hop, every genre benefits from this even-handed sound quality. Listeners will enjoy big, thumping bass that doesn't obscure subtler instruments like violin and piano. These tiny in-ears aced distortion tests, too - you won't find one drop of unwanted or distorted sound.

The K323 XS really shines, even in a crowded market. It's hard to pick which glowing attribute to praise first: The massive, well-balanced sound stage? The distortion-free listening experience? The $59 price tag? The monster isolation? The tiny, portable design? These AKGs are simply aces, and online sale prices of around $40 kick everything up another notch.